tinton  – 2 1/2 seconds
specton – 2 1/2 minutes
Toton –   2 1/2 hours
minton –  2 1/2 days
daycon –  2 1/2 weeks
quant  –  2 1/2 years
galant –  2 1/2 centuries
Metson  – 2 1/2 inches
heckson – 2 1/2 miles
tetson –  2 1/2 acres
 
Bill Axor (AKA Ambrose) – Lion clan
King Tomco Traxor – Bill’s dead father
King Tobias Traxor – Bill’s dead brother
Queen Niaco Traxor – Tiger clan, Tobias mate, now Bill’s
Twitty Glax – Grey Tabby clan, bill’s body guard and mate
Glenna Nox – Bengal clan, Bill’s body guard and mate
Mikos Glac – Chartreux clan
Commander of star crusier – Wire hair clan
General Roth – Leopard clan
Henna Glac – Chartreux clan, Mikos mate, Xendran Doctor
Theta Panadon – Cheetah clan
Cornelius Glax – one of Bill’s Uncles, Grey Tabby clan  
Conrad Nox – Bill’s other Uncle Bengal clan
Assassin group – Jaguar clan
second assassin group – Ocicat clan
Gregor – Cougar clan
Gwayne – Panther clan
Thomas – Lynx clan
Mileen – Lynx clan Thomas’s mate

Bill, the Knights and his mates made their way toward the transport at the end of the street. The closer they got the more tense Bill saw that his mates and the Knights were getting. Casually Twitty leaned against Bill purring, “We are being followed. I can smell it is the same one that attacked you in the palace.” Bill put his paw on her back pulling her close.

“I was afraid that they might try again as soon as possible. From all I have seen it is the Ocicat clan’s way. It is a good strategy if you are the one attacking; none are usually expecting it, as most aren’t. Then again they don’t have the supreme protection that I do.” Bill told her.

Glenna also leaned against Bill purring. “They are following far closer than I am comfortable with. I say that we end this now.” Glenna hissed.

“No, if we miss then we’ll have to put up with them stalking for weeks on end. Let her make a move then we will have her.” Bill said as he nuzzled against Both Glenna and Twitty.

The Ocicat clan assassin felt sick seeing the king elect and the females being so friendly in public. Her ire rising, she quickly calmed herself no sense alerting them to her presence early. Better to follow them then spring on the bastard at the least expected moment.

All eight of them made the transport without incident, though Bill had expected an attack at any moment. Stroking his whiskers he thought this one is far more calculating than any he’d been against before. Looking at his mates he knew better than to say anything. His mates were also far more calculating than most, this information though might upset them at him to no end.

Leaning over Bill whispered to Roth, “I need to start training today. I am far too vulnerable as I am. It has been far too long since I was in battle. I need to refresh and train higher.”

Roth’s eyes went wide but no other outward sign showed as he whispered back. “Yes Sire I agree, at least you’d last longer if you were better trained.”

“Here I thought I was at a high level already.” Smiling at Roth he continued, “I stand corrected my friend. Who do you suggest?”

“Sire, you need all of us to train you. We all use different techniques. I feel you would benefit from all four of us.” A startled Roth said. “I thought you knew that we all used different forms.”

“No,” Bill said sadly, “I have been gone far too long to remember everything. As it is I think a bit of the mind shield is still there though not for long.”

“We need to start as soon as possible; with the assassin still out there it would be prudent.” Roth told Bill with all seriousness.

Bill nodded as they all boarded the transport. Back at the palace Bill decided he’d start with Roth, something like know your enemy.  Roth shook his head as Bill drew his sword. “Now I want you to kill me, if you can!” Roth growled out as Bill advanced then twisted going in low, at the last second he came up to find… Roth was nowhere to be seen! A sudden slap on his rear end let him know Roth was behind him. “Not bad you might have even had a chance had you been more focused. Now again!”

Almost a toton later Bill was frustrated, nothing he’d done had even got close! Damn it was he that slow? When Roth held up his paw, then held both paws out in question Bill sat deep in thought. “It appears that I am a lot slower than I thought.” Bill told him.

Roth smacked him with the flat of the sword causing Bill to growl. “You are making the same mistakes all first years make. You aren’t slow, your eyes are. You need to start depending on ALL your senses, remember what the eyes see can almost always be a lie. Listen for the slightest movement of muscle and bone, the heart beat, the breathing. Smell the confidence or sweat of your opponent. Taste the changes in the air when they move. Do this and you will see you aren’t slow as I said your eyes are.”

Bill could only stare at Roth, what he said made sense in a way, though to isolate the senses was beyond him right now. Roth nodded seeing the confusion on Bill’s face as he took a scarf and tied it around Bill’s eyes. “So what? I’m supposed to wave a sword at you ’til you drop?” Bill said sarcastically.

“No!” Roth said as he pushed a finger into Bill’s forehead. “Think about what I said, smell, touch, taste, and hear. Use your other senses. I want you to find me.”

Bill thought a moment then tried to stretch out his other senses. Suddenly an odd odor assailed his nostrils as he slowly advance upon it. A sudden changing of the air around him caused Bill to bring his sword up catching Roth’s as it was heading for his throat. “Ah! Better! Now when you can do that without the scarf you might have a chance to learn further.”

Bill was nodding when he felt another change in the air, his whiskers twitching Bill whirled. The sudden clanging of his sword on another vibrated through his arm. “Excellent Sire!” Came the voice of Thomas. Whirling back from movement behind him Bill’s sword met Roth’s clanging loudly.

“We should have blinded you sooner Sire!” Roth said. “You might actually be a decent swordsman by now!” With a lunge Bill almost caught Roth unaware. “Very good Sire!”

Both of his swordsmen knights kept it up another quarter toton ’til all three covered in a fine sheen of sweat.

Roth looked over to Thomas as he said, “I am beginning to agree Roth. His skill has more than tripled. Keep this up Sire and you might actually be able to spar with us!” Thomas’s comment seriously pissed Bill off.

Bill had started to advance upon Thomas when something nudged the back of his mind. A saying he remembered his father talking about. Never go in angry unless you can use the anger to your advantage. An angry fighter is usually a dead fighter. Nodding Bill did his best to turn his anger inward as he started to advance again.

Striking with an almost lightning fast attack, Bill actually caught Thomas unaware. Thomas’s face held shock a moment as his sword was damn near tore from his grip! With a growl he pressed back astonished when Bill held his ground. Somewhere at the edge of his senses he felt another as Roth was there blocking several killing blows.

Stopping short Thomas realized that he’d been lost in battle lust a moment. “I think that we all have had enough for now,” Roth advised them. “Thomas have you recovered?”

“Yes,” Thomas said as Bill took off the scarf. “I apologize Sire. It appears that I was lost in battle lust. It has been a long time since I felt the strength you just showed. It took me back for a moment. I know something was different, I haven’t seen that kind of control in some time. What helped you not be lost to the anger?”

“Something father told me many quants ago.  Never go in angry unless you can use the anger to your advantage. An angry fighter is usually a dead fighter.” Bill told both his Knights.

Roth’s eyes went wide then he nodded, “it was a saying that Sir Tonaco used to say all the time. Here I thought you had no formal training! I will try to re-educate you Sire. His training I am afraid I cannot equal though.”

“The fact that these are starting to return to me is very encouraging.” Walking to Twitty Bill had a suspicion he needed to confirm. “Twitty, the mind shield that was administered on me. Who was in charge of it?”

Twitty was deep in thought a moment then her eyes went wide. “Mate, it was Glenna’s father! He was in charge of it at that time. I remember my father being upset because the duty had been taken from him!” Bowing Twitty had tears in her eyes. “I apologize mate. We need to have you examined to ensure that the shield is in fact gone. Knowing mine and her father’s though, it is a fair bet that a part of it is still intact.”

Bill was nodding his assent as Twitty pulled her com calling for Henna. Glenna bowed before Bill, “I apologize that our family has so many traitors in it mate.”

“You don’t have to apologize for him mate. You did not make him as he is. I am grateful that you are nothing like him, with as strong a sense of duty.” Bill told her as he took her face rubbing behind her ears. Purring she nodded as Bill traced the Bengal stripes on her head, enjoying the contact.

Henna answered a moment later saying that she was on her way. Bill went with the others into the palace. Sitting Bill was impatient to find out whether or not he was clear. It was perhaps an hour later that Henna shook her head.

“You have broken well over eighty percent of the mind shield. The last section appears to be further installed than I have ever seen a shield be.” Sighing Henna could see that this was going to take a bit to remove. “I can remove possibly three percent today. Most seems to be as you guessed your instinctive traits. Plus it appears that a part of your memory is affected. Can you recall much of your early memories?”

Shocked a moment Bill looked at her then slowly nodded. Much of the memories of his father and brother were missing. “It also appears that a part of my reasoning is affected.”

Henna was nodding, “I was afraid that was affected also. What I remove today should greatly help with that. Though I am afraid that, with that section missing, you might have more doubts than you have ever had.”

Bill nodded as Henna started a machine that emitted a strange light on his forehead. Even as they watched Bill started to shake then sweat started to form and fall from his head. Henna watched as the levels that were open started to climb, looking at his vitals she didn’t want to risk much. At eighty three percent she’d started to reach for the power switch when Bill caught her hand.

“No!” He was whispering. “I can take more, I need more please!” Though not pleased she could see that he was still within tolerable levels. At eighty four the sweat was starting to fall more freely. At eighty five she again reached for the power switch as his vital readings were starting to climb dangerously high. Again he stopped her shaking his head with a pleading look.

“I have to shut it off sire, much more will fry your brain!” Looking she saw that he was at eighty five and a half percent!

“Give me that last half percent Doctor, please!” Bill was whispering though Henna could barely hear him, his eyes starting to close. The second it hit eighty-six, Henna was shutting everything down as fast as possible.

Taking everything off Henna started to examine him as thoroughly as she could. A moment later Bill’s eyes opened as he motioned for her to come close. “What was so important that you risked your mind?” She asked.

“I saw my mother. I had forgotten what she looked like. I am going to destroy him when I catch him. He will suffer the slowest death I can give him.” Bill weakly growled out, then his eyes closed.

Henna’s eyes went wide as she started to administer several medications. With a sigh she listened to Bill’s heart and lungs. Breathing a sigh of relief she sat, “As of right now he is not to get out of this bed ’til I say so!”

All of his mates smiled at her. “I think that we can manage that.”

Roth nodded at the Doctor then spoke, “I’m sorry Doctor, he has to be crowned tonight. Since he announced it we cannot delay.”

Henna’s eyes got wide, he needed rest after what he’d let her subject him to. Thinking a moment she nodded, “I think I can have him ready but you had best make sure no one can get near him.” Motioning Roth near the Doctor whispered in his ear. Roth nodded as his eyes got large.

It was several two totons later that a figure crept into the palace. Moving in the shadows as if they were part of them the figure moved deeper. Finally near the king’s bedroom the figure smiled. They had more than tripled security. It made things sweeter especially after she killed him.

Entering another room, the figure was out the window edging along to the outside to the king’s bedroom. Looking in, then dropping, down the figure moved beside the bed. Removing a small tube, the figure fired two darts at the figure that was in the bed. When there was no outcry the figure knew it had been fooled. Retreating to the window the figure found the way blocked by a panther clan member with a sword. The door opened with a Lynx and a Cougar clan member both entering the room barring escape.

“I suggest you surrender before we are forced to kill you!” The Lynx clan male said.

“Ha!” Came a hissing female voice. “You cannot kill what is already dead!” With that the figure threw her hood back, her fiery red fur and spots seeming to glow. “I am of the Ocicat clan, I will never surrender! Neither will you defeat me!” Lashing out she threw several small weapons at the three males.

Her eyes went wide when she saw all her weapons deflected or cut out of the air with blinding speed! By the great feline! Looking at the three REALLY looking at them she saw the insignia of a first knight of the realm! That was impossible! There was no king! A sudden realization struck her as she threw the covers off the bed. Growling she flung them at Gwayne, skittering out the window.

Cursing, Gwayne was out after her four tintons later. Gregor and Thomas, almost as quickly behind him. Scaling the wall the assassin could only stare at the three males that were after her. They were fully armored moving as if they were in everyday clothes! I must escape she thought the clan’s future depends on it! She made it around a corner then instantly blended in, thinking she was safe for now.

All three of the knights rounded the corner stopping. Lifting their heads they sniffed the air their whiskers twitching. Extending their hands they all turned toward her! “There she is!” An angry Gwayne  declared as he pointed directly at her. Moving as fast as she could the front of the palace came into view. Jumping she made her way over the fence even as she felt the three knights closing the distance!

Gregor was starting to feel his blood boil as he increased his speed after the female. Rounding a corner right on her heels he managed to grasp her shoulder. Dropping, she flipped him over the shoulder he had ahold of. Gregor cursed as she drew her sword swinging at him. Smiling he drew his own as he squared off against her.

“Now unknown female of the Ocicat clan, you will know what a true master is!” Lunging he was surprised when she deflected his blow.

“I’ll take care of your mate if you wish when she kills you.” Thomas snidely said.

“Shut the hell up!” Gwayne hissed as he growled swinging at the female almost catching her then was rebuffed. Damn it he thought. She is by far better trained than I had at first thought!

“Here I thought you were a first knight! A master of your craft! You are no such master!” The female hissed at him.

“I respect the wishes of the king elect, I was not to kill you though keep up this banter, you shall find your head next to you!” Gwayne growled deeper.

“Good! I am bored with you already!” The female hissed at him as she made a twisting move that brought her close to his throat!

Angry now Gwayne smiled, she’d made a mistake making him mad. Gwayne slashed in with blinding speed, she deflected everything. Thing was he was starting to edge closer and closer ’til he was almost at her throat. Spinning away she drew her short sword striking high and low with both swords. Smiling Gwayne had seen her go for the sword thrusting in blocking both attacks. Swinging savagely Gwayne ripped through both her second attacks taking both her weapons with the attack!

Knocked to the ground she tried to scramble away only to find that the male had her pinned to the ground. “Yield to a superior force!” Gwayne shouted in her face.

“Kill me you bastard human!” The female hissed at him.

Looking at his companions who just shrugged, Gwayne looked down at her. “So be it!” Then cuffed her with the hilt of his sword knocking her unconscious. “I told you,” he hissed at her unconscious form, “I was not to kill you. It was the wishes of the king elect!”

Looking up both Thomas and Gregor were clapping. Bowing with false bravado had Thomas’s eyes rolling. “Always a bad actor!” Thomas said.

“Ha!” Gwayne said. “With an audience as unappreciative as you, one has to do what one can!” Gwayne said feigning disdain at having a bad audience.

This time it was Gregor that was rolling his eyes at Gwayne. “You know I am glad I have my boots on. By the great feline, it is getting deep!” All three of them started to laugh as Thomas withdrew handcuff type restraints. Securing the female Gwayne threw her over his shoulder as all three made their way back to the palace.

A small female watched the whole proceedings as the knights moved off. She needed to inform the Ocicat clan leader that his daughter had been captured! Waiting for a time she knew that moving too soon might alert the knights that they had been watched. Finally confident the female moved off at a leisurely pace.

Gwayne went straight to the palace dungeons with the female. Bill was already there sitting in a chair against the wall waiting for them. “I see you managed to catch her.” Bill said as he smiled weakly.

Gwayne turned to stare hard at Gregor and Thomas. “Sire aren’t you far too weak?” A worried Gwayne said.

“I am fine for now. I just wanted to see who had tried to kill me. Plus had the skill to keep a knight at bay for a time.” Bill said as he smiled. With that Bill arose and slowly made his way up the stairs. He had to prepare, Sighing he would be King after tonight no matter how much he wished to delay it.

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